Cycle of War (Genesis 14)

 Cycle of War

Genesis 14 gives a quick overview of a war. But this template can be applied throughout all history. Humanity has never changed and war seems to be in his nature.


[Gen 14:1-12 NKJV] 1 And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, 2 [that] they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). 3 All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that [were] with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which [is] by the wilderness. 7 Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that [is], Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar. 8 And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that [is], Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar--four kings against five. 10 Now the Valley of Siddim [was full of] asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; [some] fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. 11 Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. 12 They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.


To summarise: Chederlaomer and his allies went to war, a few kings rebelled, a war came, the rebellion was crushed, many people were taken captive and many riches were taken. 

Such is the constant, and almost boring, cycle of war throughout history.

It is simply human nature. And the names of these kings will always be famous because of this.

Whether it is for good reasons or for bad, war is in the essence of humanity’s history. And this was so from the very beginning.

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